
Hard Rock International’s acquisition of The Mirage from MGM Resorts is set to finalize before the end of the year, with any immediate changes potentially going unnoticed by customers and visitors.
At the Nevada casino and resort, only a handful of things will undergo changes; however, the most significant change will impact MGM Rewards customers.
Here are the changes and non-changes for customers and visitors in Las Vegas.
What to expect after The Mirage sale
Once Hard Rock assumes control, the property’s future will no longer be influenced by MGM Resorts.
MGM Resorts, for instance, stated, “There are no current plans to change the volcano show.” Nevertheless, all evidence indicates that the volcano in front of the renowned casino (shown above) is set to close. The Hard Rock has frequently expressed intentions to substitute the volcano with a hotel tower shaped like a guitar.
In a letter addressed to employees, Joe Lupo, the president of Hard Rock, stated that the following staples would continue operating in the coming year:
- Beatles LOVE
- Heritage Steakhouse
- California Pizza Kitchen
In addition to constructing a hotel tower shaped like a guitar in front of the property, The Mirage will also have a new music venue. Bloomberg reports that Hard Rock plans to invest up to $1.5 billion in renovations.
As The Mirage changes ownership, the current operator is getting MGM customers ready for the transition. An email was sent to MGM Rewards members, in which the company conveyed the following:
We are grateful for your sustained loyalty and would like to inform you that The Mirage may soon change ownership from MGM Resorts International to Hard Rock International due to an imminent sale. This transaction is anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2022. You can generally anticipate continuity in business operations as Hard Rock plans to maintain the operation of The Mirage upon completion of the sale.
The name remains the same for now
The property will continue to be known as The Mirage since Hard Rock holds a three-year lease on the name. It is probable that the company will retain the name until the property assumes a completely new identity.
Mirage hotel reservations
Hotel reservations at The Mirage will continue to be respected following the sale, encompassing rooms booked using MGM Rewards comps. Even though reservations will persist on the MGM app, it will become unusable once the sale concludes. As a result, guests can’t utilize digital key, check-in or check-out features on the app once Hard Rock assumes control.
If you have concerns about your hotel reservations post-sale closure, please contact The Mirage at 1-800-777-6533. It’s crucial to call before the sale concludes, as MGM Resorts will lose access thereafter.
Guests for future bookings have the option to cancel their reservation before the completion of the deal and will be refunded their deposits. However, once the deal is finalized, Hard Rock will handle all cancellation responsibilities. There’s a possibility that MGM could shift guests to other properties located on the Vegas Strip.
The following casinos in Las Vegas are operated by MGM:
- Aria
- Bellagio
- Excalibur
- Luxor
- Mandalay Bay
- MGM Grand
- New York-New York
- Park MGM
Despite MGM operating The Cosmopolitan, the hotel is still not a part of the MGM Rewards system.
MGM parking
The parking policy of MGM will continue to be in place until the sale of The Mirage concludes. Once Hard Rock assumes control, it’s probable that this policy will be altered.
BetMGM Sportsbook
One exception to the turnover is that BetMGM will retain control of the sportsbook at the Mirage following the sale. Therefore, sports gamblers in Las Vegas can still utilize the BetMGM app and continue accruing BetMGM points and benefits for their wagers.
Mirage loyalty rewards become Unity rewards
Upon the completion of the deal, The Mirage will cease to be a part of the MGM loyalty program. Correspondingly, following the closure of the sale, MGM Rewards members will be unable to utilize their benefits at The Mirage.
The rewards program for The Mirage/Hard Rock is set to evolve into the Unity by Hard Rock rewards. This new rewards scheme will connect all Hard Rock hotels, casinos, and cafes.
The Unity program by Hard Rock includes four tier levels, each offering a unique set of benefits:
- Star: Everyone
- Legend: 4,000–14,999 tier credits
- Icon: 15,000+ tier credits
- X: Invite-only
Furthermore, casinos offer extra benefits through their rewards program. When Unity arrives in Las Vegas, it is expected to provide parking and resort fee advantages for higher-tier members. Further details are anticipated to be released after the completion of the sale.
Guests at The Mirage will soon have the ability to accumulate and utilize rewards at 10 Hard Rock casinos across the US and Caribbean. The company also runs three non-casino hotels in the US and an additional five in Mexico. In total, there are 150 locations where guests can participate.
The process of aligning the new rewards program at Tropicana with other Bally’s Corp. casinos across the country could take some time. In other words, it might require a while before the transition successfully integrates with properties outside Nevada.
On Dec. 13, 2021, Hard Rock International purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts for $1.075 billion.